Snow Caving

Connor and Bryce had the chance to go with their Boy Scout Troop snow caving at the base of Mt. Rainer. They left early Friday morning for the 2 hour drive. When they arrived at camp, each of the boys had to build their snow cave with the help of their cave-mates. Bryce and his mates had to rebuild theirs several times until they got it right. After many pairs of socks and gloves, their caves were ready to sleep in. I'm not sure what all they did once their caves were built but they made it through the night and safely back home. The boys did say that it was so cold, anything wet froze overnight. As I was starting their laundry, I came across many socks that were rolled up with ice in the middle. They did come home with a nice sunburn and an appreciation of the warmth of home.

I hope to get pictures from their Scoutmaster and will post them once I receive them.

"Me" Time

For the past couple of years I have managed to escape the responsibilities of being a mom and get away for "Me" time. Other years I have gone with friends but this time, I went by myself to Utah for a week to visit with my parents. Keith did an admirable job getting everyone where they needed to be and the kids even complimented him on his cooking skills. I think it is a good lesson to the boys that when they are married with kids, it is okay for Dad to be in charge and let his wife recharge her batteries. It is also a lesson to the girls that it is okay to leave your family when you need some time to yourself. I am very thankful for a husband who recognizes when I need a break and allows me to go galavanting around the country when I need it.

While in Utah, I was able visit late into the night with my sister, get my hair done, beat my Mom at Hand and Foot, visit my Grandma Holjeson, run errands and out to lunch with my Dad, eat Mormon Muffins and giant scones, go to the movie and most importantly, relax. I now feel able again to face the trials and happy times of being a mom.

Swimming Little Mermaid Style

Kiersten just finished her 4th round of swimming lessons. She loves the water!! We are going to Topsail Beach in North Carolina this summer for Keith's family reunion. I thought she should have some background in swimming before we went. It is also a good way to kill a couple of mornings every week.

She is in the Eel class at the YMCA and is one of the top students in her class. Her teacher Miss Kasey does a great job with the kids and Kiersten follows her direction most of the time. She is not afraid of the water and is very close to swimming independently for more that a few strokes. I am very proud of her progress and hope she will continue to love the water.

End of an Era

You know you are getting old when things that were common to you are now foreign to your kids. Today I bought a new set of phones. Our old ones were all having problems holding a charge and they were at least 5 years old so of course we couldn't find new batteries. The set I bought included 5 cordless handsets and 1 corded phone. We decided on this set so we could still have phone access in the event of a power outage. While all 5 of the cordless handsets are charging, we only have the corded phone to use. All of the kids were baffled by the corded phone. Questions like, did we get a new phone number and how do you use this thing were prevalent. Lauren tried to dial the phone without picking up the handset.

Another mystery is the VCR. The kids all know how to work the DVD player but today when Kiersten wanted to watch a video cassette, none of the kids knew how to do it. What is this world coming to?